A resume is a concise, tailored document that highlights your skills, experiences, and accomplishments for a specific opportunity. Resumes are used for non-academic careers, including roles in government, nonprofit, and private business, and various other industries.
Purpose of a Resume
Your resume helps employers quickly understand:
- Who you are professionally
- What skills and experiences you bring
- How your background fits the role or opportunity
A strong resume is concise, clear, relevant, and targeted. It does not list everything you have done, only what matters most for this position.
What to Include
Most resumes include the following sections:
Contact Information
Name
Email (professional)
Phone number
LinkedIn profile or portfolio-URL (if relevant)
Education
Degree, major/minor
Institution and graduation date
GPA (optional)
Experience
Jobs, internships, research, leadership, or service
Focus on impact, accomplishments, tasks, or duties
Use action verbs and describe results
Skills
Technical skills (software, tools, languages)
Relevant professional or transferable skills
Optional Sections
Projects or research
Certifications or training
Campus involvement or community engagement
Formatting Basics
- Length: 1-2 page for most students and recent graduates
- Font: Clean and readable (e.g., Caliber, Aral, Times New Roman)
- Font size: 10.5–12 pt (name can be larger)
- Margins: 0.5–1 inch
- Consistency: Dates, headings, and bullet styles should match
Tips for a Strong Resume
- Tailor your resume for each position
- Avoid jargon
- Use the employer's language in the job post to demonstrate your alignment with the position